The ANZAC Bell Tour

Listen closely: Perth’s biggest bell tells a bigger story. The ANZAC Bell Tour takes you behind the scenes at the Bell Tower, where you can chime ancient bells, watch the 6,500 kg ANZAC Bell ring at noon, and hear a World War I song played on the carillon.

I like the small-group size, capped at 14 people, and the excellent timing, since the 11:30 a.m. start leads neatly into the midday bell ringing. I also like the take-home ANZAC Bell medallion, which can be engraved free at the Perth Mint. The main consideration is that the ANZAC story is fairly compact, so anyone seeking a detailed Gallipoli lecture may find that part less thorough than expected.

Key points to know before you book

• The 11:30 a.m. start matters: It is timed so you can witness the 6,500 kg ANZAC Bell ring at midday.
• You get behind the ropes: The tour includes access to the ringing chamber and a chance to chime ancient bells yourself.
• The group stays small: A maximum of 14 people makes this more personal than a standard tower visit.
• The sixth-floor view is part of the experience: You will look across the Swan River and Perth from the observation deck.
• The medallion has an extra use: Take it to the Perth Mint for free engraving after the tour.
• The visit is short but focused: Allow about 45 minutes to one hour, with admission and taxes included.

Why the Bell Tower makes a good Perth stop

The Bell Tower sits at Barrack Square on Riverside Drive, close to Elizabeth Quay and public transport. Its location makes it easy to add to a day in central Perth, especially if you want a short attraction with a clear sense of place rather than another long museum visit.

I like the Bell Tower because it gives you several kinds of experience in one hour. You hear the bells, learn how they work, connect the ANZAC Bell to Australian memory, and finish with a high view over the river and city. The tour is not just about looking at a large bell behind glass.

The appeal is strongest for anyone curious about sound, machinery, local history, or the way public memorials are made. Families can enjoy the hands-on bell ringing, while history-minded visitors will appreciate the ANZAC focus. You do not need specialist knowledge to follow the tour, and most people can take part.

Still, this is a focused attraction. The tour will not give you a full account of the First World War or a broad survey of Australian military history. The Gallipoli link may be explained briefly, and the quality of that explanation can matter if the ANZAC story is your main reason for booking.

Arriving at Barrack Square for the 11:30 start

Your meeting point is The Bell Tower, Barrack Square, Riverside Drive, Perth WA 6000. The listed start time is 11:30 a.m., so plan to be in the area before then rather than arriving at the last moment.

That timing is not random. The tour moves through the bell-ringing areas before bringing you to the ANZAC Bell in time for its noon ringing. If you arrive late, you risk missing the central moment of the visit, so I would treat 11:30 as a firm appointment.

A mobile ticket is accepted, and confirmation is provided when you book. The tour ends back at the Bell Tower, which keeps your day simple. You can continue around Barrack Square, head toward Elizabeth Quay, or visit the Perth Mint afterward to use the free engraving offer attached to the medallion.

The Bell Tower is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. The experience is suitable for most people, although the supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance for every part of the building. If you have specific access needs, contact the provider before booking.

Level 1: ringing ancient bells yourself

The tour begins on level 1, where your guide takes you behind the scenes into the ringing chamber. This is where the visit becomes more than a viewing platform stop. You get to chime the ancient bells, with the guide showing you how the ringing area works.

That hands-on moment receives some of the strongest praise for good reason. Bells of this scale are not ordinary objects, and seeing them from a distance does not tell you much about the physical work involved. Being close enough to participate gives the machinery and sound a practical meaning.

I like this part because it breaks up the history talk. You are not simply listening while moving from one display to another. You are involved, even if only briefly, and the action helps younger children stay interested.

The ringing chamber can also be the busiest-feeling part of a small room, especially with a full group of 14. The limited group size helps, but this is not a private tour. If you want uninterrupted time with every bell, you may need to share the moment and listen closely to the guide.

The tour promises an introduction to the history of the bells as a group, not just the ANZAC Bell. That broader context is useful because it explains why the Bell Tower is more than a memorial site. You get a sense of the building as a working home for bells with different ages, sounds, and purposes.

The 6,500 kg ANZAC Bell at midday

From the ringing chamber, the group follows the guide to level 5 to see the ANZAC Bell ring at midday. At 6,500 kg, this is the physical centerpiece of the tour, and the timing gives the experience a clear climax.

The bell’s weight is easy to read as a number and harder to grasp until you are near it. The point of the visit is not simply that the bell is large. It is the combination of scale, sound, and memorial meaning. You learn why the bell matters, then watch it perform the task that makes it a bell rather than a static monument.

This is also where expectations matter. The tour provides an introduction to the ANZAC Bell’s meaning and history, but it is not advertised as a long specialist seminar. If you already know a lot about Gallipoli, you may want more detail about the connection between the campaign and the bell.

For me, the best way to approach this section is to listen for the story’s main idea: how a bell can honor service and remembrance while remaining part of an active public building. That is a more useful takeaway than trying to memorize every date.

The midday ringing gives the tour a sense of occasion that a flexible self-guided visit may not provide. You are there for a specific event, and the rest of the route builds toward it. The trade-off is that you have less freedom to choose your own time.

Level 6: the carillon and Perth views

After the ANZAC Bell, the guide takes you to the level 6 observation deck. Here, you hear a popular World War I song played on the carillon, the instrument connected with the tower’s bells.

This adds another sound-based layer to the tour. You have already chimed bells yourself and heard the huge ANZAC Bell. The carillon shows how the tower can turn a collection of bells into music, linking the building’s mechanics with its ceremonial role.

The observation deck also gives you panoramic views over the Swan River and Perth. I would save a few minutes to look outward rather than treating the view as a quick backdrop. From this height, the tower becomes a useful orientation point, letting you connect Barrack Square, the river, and the city center.

The view is a bonus, not the whole reason to buy this tour. If you want a long photography session or a high-level city attraction, the short schedule may feel limiting. If you want a compact look at Perth paired with a strong local subject, it fits nicely.

The carillon song may be especially meaningful if you enjoy music or military commemorations. For others, it is a brief performance that rounds out the visit without taking over the tour. Either way, it gives the final section a distinct character instead of ending immediately after the main bell rings.

The ANZAC medallion and the Perth Mint tip

At the end of the tour, you receive an ANZAC Bell medallion to take home. It is a small item, but it gives the visit a physical reminder beyond photographs.

The useful detail is that you can take the medallion to the Perth Mint for free engraving. If the Mint is already on your Perth plan, book the Bell Tower first and use the medallion there afterward. This order can save you from missing a benefit that is easy to overlook.

The engraving offer also improves the value of the $25.10 price. You are paying for a guided visit, access to areas not covered by a simple look around, the noon ringing, the carillon performance, the observation deck, and a souvenir with an additional use.

Free-entry customers do not receive the medallion, although it can be purchased separately at the Bell Tower. That distinction matters if you are comparing the paid tour with other entry options. The medallion is not the main reason to book, but it is a pleasant extra for anyone planning to visit the Mint.

Is $25.10 good value for one hour?

At $25.10 per person, this is reasonably priced for a guided small-group attraction in central Perth. The tour lasts about 45 minutes to one hour, so you are not buying a full morning or afternoon activity. You are buying a compact experience with a fixed purpose and several included elements.

I see the value in the access. A standard visit may let you enter the Bell Tower, but this tour specifically takes you into the ringing chamber, lets you chime ancient bells, and positions you for the ANZAC Bell’s midday ringing. Those moments give the paid tour a clear reason to exist.

The value is stronger if you can use the Perth Mint engraving. It is also stronger if you enjoy local stories, bells, music, or memorials. Someone interested only in a city view may find a shorter visit or another lookout more suitable.

All fees and taxes are included. Private transportation is not included, but that should not be a major issue for a central Perth attraction near public transport. You simply need to make your own way to Barrack Square.

The group limit of 14 is another factor in the price. You are not being moved through with a very large crowd, and the guide can demonstrate the bells in a more direct way. The experience remains brief, but the format gives the hour more substance.

Who should book the ANZAC Bell Tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want one of these:

• A short Perth activity with a clear start and finish
• A behind-the-scenes look at a working bell tower
• A hands-on experience for children or curious adults
• A respectful introduction to the ANZAC Bell
• A city and Swan River view with a local story attached
• A small souvenir that can be engraved at the Perth Mint

It is also a smart choice for a first day in Perth. The tour gives you a sense of the central riverfront, and the observation deck can help you understand the city’s layout before you walk around it.

I would be more cautious if you dislike fixed schedules or have no interest in bells. The 11:30 start is essential to the program, and the visit is built around sound, machinery, and ceremony. If you want a broad military history presentation, you may find the ANZAC section too short.

The tour is a good fit for couples, families, and solo visitors who prefer a guide to explain the details. With a maximum of 14 people, it has a personal feel without the cost of a private tour.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off uses Perth local time.

The tour starts and ends at the Bell Tower. It runs daily according to the supplied details, with the 11:30 a.m. start designed around the noon ANZAC Bell ringing. Allow one hour, even though the estimated duration can be as short as 45 minutes.

Most people can participate, service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Since the group can contain up to 14 people, the guide may need to manage several hands-on moments within a tight schedule.

Bring your mobile ticket and keep your plans flexible after the tour if you want to visit the Perth Mint for engraving. The best practical sequence is Bell Tower first, Perth Mint second.

Final verdict: should you book it?

Book the ANZAC Bell Tour if you want a compact, hands-on Perth experience with real local character. The ancient bells, the 6,500 kg ANZAC Bell, the noon ringing, the carillon music, and the river view give you plenty for the price.

I would not book it solely for a detailed Gallipoli lesson or a long city lookout visit. For those needs, the tour may feel brief. But if you want to hear, touch, and understand one of Perth’s most distinctive landmarks, the $25.10 cost is fair, especially when you add the free Perth Mint engraving.

FAQ

Where does the ANZAC Bell Tour start?

It starts at The Bell Tower, Barrack Square, Riverside Drive, Perth WA 6000, Australia.

What time does the tour begin?

The listed start time is 11:30 a.m. The schedule is designed to include the ANZAC Bell ringing at midday.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 45 minutes to one hour.

Can I ring the bells during the tour?

Yes. The tour includes access to the ringing chamber, where you can chime ancient bells with the guide.

Is the ANZAC Bell medallion included?

The paid tour includes a take-home ANZAC Bell medallion. Customers using free entry do not receive one, but a medallion can be purchased at the Bell Tower.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted.